Play on the go
- hollie-mae1
- Jul 6, 2023
- 3 min read
We have so many things stored away in our van for keeping little ones busy while we're on the move. Lots of these games store away small, which is really important when you're tight for space. It also means they're handing for popping in your bag; you never know when you might need a distraction! We've used our van games as a way of making new friends on campsites, for keeping busy during the winter months when the nights draw in early and we're all inside the van together, and for the odd time that we've eaten out and needed to keep the children busy at the table.
The game I have to mention first is called OK Play which we first saw on Instagram from Big Potato Games. I bought this, along with lots of other little games, for the children in last year's Christmas stockings. Great to get started with if you're spreading out your Christmas spending this year! We love this game because it packs away very easily and is tiny, it's also very inclusive for little ones who can play without knowing the rules and without ruining the game for the older ones. As you can see from Rosie's face here, it causes quite a stir! We take it everywhere with us and it's perfect for cold or rainy times in the van.
Memory games are great for storing in the van. The children are using them here on their lap trays while we're travelling- a great way to pass the time! I like to choose wooden ones with larger pieces as they're easier to find if dropped. I also love games like these as they're more inclusive for younger children. Although mine are 9 and 7 now, we often make friends with families whilst camping and they may have younger children. My two love being the 'expert' and teaching younger ones how to play. This particular one is an Usborne memory game with bugs and beetles. I'll share some links of our favourites here for you.
We love card games!
Who doesn't? Pop them in your bag, play them while you're hiking, distract from boredom on long journeys and play them over the dinner table. The possibilities are endless.
We love a game of uno, its' great competitive fun. We avoid it at most bedtimes though as it always seems to last forever...! Also, beware of the game's newest edition- Uno All Wild. The clue is in the name!
Plop trumps is our newest version of Top Trumps. It's great fun, but equally gross.
Magnetic tiles are a fantastic resource for children of all ages, and wonderful to stash away in the van. We have had many sets of these and have built them up over the years. We particularly love Connectix tiles as the magnets are so strong and the tiles are incredibly durable. Noah loves to build tall towers and knock them down, so strength is important! Fill a big sandwich bag full of some of your tile collection, making sure you pack a variety of the shapes and colours. The children also like to add people, cars and dinosaurs to their creations, so pop some of those in the bag if you have the space. These are another great resource to use with a lap tray whilst travels, especially if your tray is metal!
So that's my guide to play on the go and the best games to invest in for your travels. These would all make perfect stocking fillers too, so its a great time to get thinking about updating your games cupboard. We have lots of mini versions of our bedt loved games from home too, which we've found at different service stations and also at many supermarkets. If you're stuck for things for the grandparents to buy for the children this year, put some of these on their list!
I'd love to hear your suggestions if there are any I haven't shared here, so please do send me a message. I'd love to hear from you.
Hollie x
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